Leaving Whanganui we used the coastal road to skirt Mt Taranaki from the Southeast to get to New Plymouth to its North. We stopped in Hawera to look at the iconic water tower and views from the top of the town and surrounds. We stopped at several coast locations, including Opunake Beach and Pungarehu Beach, a 14th century Pa (Maori fort) at Te Koru Historic Reserve. On arrivng in new Plymouth we visited the Len Lye centre and Govett-Brewster Art Gallery and finally did a walk and drive along the coastal walkway.